Eastern Conservation - Staff Directory

Elizabeth Maclin, VP for Eastern Conservation
1300 North 17th Street
Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22209-3801
(703) 284-9437

Elizabeth leads TU's eastern conservation efforts, working from Georgia to Maine to protect, reconnect, and restore habitat for native and wild trout and Atlantic salmon.  Prior to joining TU, she spent eight years at American Rivers developing and implementing the organization's dam removal and river restoration programs.  Elizabeth received a B.A. in biology from Colby College in 1993 and an M.B.A. and M.S. in natural resource policy from the University of Michigan in 1998.  She grew up in northern Virginia, and spent as much time as possible hiking, fishing, and skiing near her grandparents' farm in western Massachusetts. Elizabeth resides with her husband, son, and two mastiffs in Washington, D.C.

Amy Wolfe, Eastern Abandoned Mine Program Director
(570) 748-4901

Amy joined with TU in 1999 as the coordinator for the Kettle Creek Home Rivers Initiative where she was responsible for the completion of numerous fish habitat and abandoned mine drainage remediation projects, restoration plans, and landowner stewardship and educational trainings and projects. In 2004, Amy led TU into launching the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative and now as Director of TU's Eastern Abandoned Mine Program, Amy continues to expand TU's efforts to restore trout and their watersheds that are impacted as a result of abandoned coal mines.

Brian Cowden, Musconetcong Home River Initiative Coordinator
(201) 230-3383

After nearly 21 years in corporate sales, and many years as a TU volunteer, Brian joined the Eastern Conservation staff in February 2008. As a TU volunteer he ran New Jersey's Trout in the Classroom program. Now he spends his time protecting, reconnecting, and restoring the stunning 158 square mile Musconetcong River and its tributaries. When not working on the Musky, as it is affectionately known, Brian can be found following his Brittany through the grouse and woodcock uplands or fly fishing for trout and striped bass. Brian resides with his wife and daughter near the upper Musconetcong watershed in northwestern New Jersey.

Colin Lawson, New England Culvert Project Coordinator
(603) 609-5825

Colin recently joined TU as the New England Culvert Project Coordinator. His focus will be to reconnect Eastern brook trout habitat in priority New England watersheds through the removal, replacement or retrofit of currently impassable stream crossings. Colin will work with TU's state councils and chapters, local, state and federal agencies, landowners, and other non-profit organizations in the Green and White Mountain National Forests and Ashuelot and Westfield river watersheds in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Prior to joining TU, Colin managed cross country ski areas in Vermont before returning to graduate school to study environmental science at Antioch New England University.

Damon Hearne, Southeast Land Protection Coordinator
(828) 398-0177

Damon is the project coordinator for the Southeast Land Protection Program. Working with land trusts and TU chapters, Damon helps protect and restore watersheds and streams within the eastern brook trout range in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Damon comes to TU with both a passion for the Appalachians and their wildlife and experience in land preservation and land trust issues. He received his B.A. in biology from Earlham College and his M.S. in resource ecology and management from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources. Damon lives with his wife, Megan, and daughter, Julianna, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Gary Berti, Eastern Home Rivers Initiative Director & Potomac Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative Manager
(304) 704-2731

Gary joined TU in January 2006 as the Eastern Brook Trout Campaign Coordinator and in 2008 moved over to run the Potomac Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative where he works to remove passage blockages, build habitat in the stream and in the riparian areas, and develop brook trout centered educational programs for youth and schools. Gary also oversees all of the Eastern Home Rivers Initiatives. Gary's background in stream and stream restoration spans more than 20 years in diverse fields such as wastewater planning, post-flood restoration practice, stream morphology and habitat restoration. When he is not working on trout habitat, Gary can be found back country skiing, hiking, and cycling. He lives in Davis, West Virginia and spends time on his farm in Montrose raising a dog, cat, chickens and restoring the old farmhouse and outbuildings.

Jeff Reardon, Maine Brook Trout Campaign Director
(207) 615-9200

Jeff has worked for TU in New England since 1999, focusing on a variety of issues including hydroelectric dam relicensing; small and large dam removal; and Atlantic salmon and brook trout restoration. His current role is directing TU's brook trout campaign in Maine where he is using the Conservation Success Index and a TU volunteer-created database to advocate for better fishery management; creating partnerships with outfitters and lodges to generate ecotourism dollars; and collaborating with timber companies and land trusts to improve harvest practices. Prior to joining TU's staff, Jeff was the chair of the Maine Council of TU. When he's not working, Jeff enjoys chasing Maine's brook trout, landlocked salmon and black ducks. He lives in Central Maine with his wife.

Jim MacCartney, River Restoration Specialist
(603) 226-3436

Jim assists TU chapters, councils, staff and partners nationwide on a variety of river restoration projects including stream crossings, channel restoration, bank stabilization, habitat enhancement, dam removal, and watershed assessment. Before joining TU, Jim worked for the NH Department of Environmental Services where he administered the NH Rivers Program, and led development of the state's instream flow policy. Jim is also former President of the River Management Society, and earned his M.S. in Resource Management and Administration from Antioch University New England. He is an avid hiker, telemark skier, whitewater rafter, and fly fisherman.

Joe Norton, Upper Connecticut Home Rivers Initiative Coordinator
(603) 748-1986

Joe is the project coordinator for TU's Upper Connecticut Home Rivers Initiative in northern New Hampshire and Vermont. A New Hampshire native, Joe previously worked as Executive Director at the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation. Prior to that, he owned and operated Twin River Anglers, a fly shop in Lewiston, Idaho; worked for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game after graduating from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana; and chased steelhead throughout the Pacific Northwest for nearly 20 years. Joe enjoys a multitude of outdoor sports, including skiing, fly fishing, and hunting.

Katy Dunlap, Eastern Water Project Director
(607) 742-3331

Katy is the Eastern Water Project Director for TU, working at the state level to develop new or change existing instream flow policies throughout the Northeast region, as well as organizing TU members and local communities around a host of water management issues including those related to Marcellus Shale. Before joining TU, she was the Executive Director of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, a five-state alliance working to build the capacity of local watershed groups to advocate for sound water resource management and policies. Katy received her B.S. in Environmental Science, Policy & Management from the College of Environmental Science & Forestry at Syracuse University in 1993 and she earned her J.D. and Masters in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School in 2000.

Kevin Anderson, Chesapeake Bay Land Protection Coordinator
(703) 284-9420

Kevin joined TU in January 2011 as the Chesapeake Bay Land Protection Coordinator. Based in TU's national office in Arlington, Virginia, Kevin works with TU members, land trusts, and others throughout the Bay watershed to permanently protect the region's coldwater fisheries by promoting land and conservation easement acquisition. He also coordinates habitat restoration projects and advocacy campaigns related to watershed restoration and conservation funding. Kevin cut his teeth in land conservation while working at the Brandywine Conservancy between 2004 and 2010. He has also held positions with American Farmland Trust and the Quebec-Labrador Foundation. Kevin earned a B.A. from St. Michael's College and a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University.

Mitchell Blake, Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Field Organizer
(814) 977-0007

Mitchell is the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Field Organizer, working with TU's grassroots membership to implement the Coldwater Conservation Corps—a project dedicated to educating, organizing and mobilizing the commonwealth's sportsmen and women around the issues associated with gas drilling. Mitchell received a B.S. in Biology from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in 2007 and earned a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida in 2011. His graduate work and previous work experience have primarily been focused on spatial ecology of both game and non-game wildlife populations, forestry and land management practices, habitat restoration and mitigation and environmental education. Mitchell lives in south-central Pennsylvania where he enjoys hunting, fishing, motocross racing and woodworking.

Rachel Kester, Eastern Abandoned Mine Program Project Coordinator
(570) 748-4901

Rachel is the Project Coordinator for the Eastern Abandoned Mine Program's West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative. Rachel first became interested in abandoned mine drainage cleanup as an intern at the Clearfield County Conservation District, where she later served as the Watershed Specialist before accepting her current position at TU. Living and working in Clearfield County, one of the most AMD-impacted counties in the West Branch Susquehanna Sub-basin, has left her with a passion for restoring impaired watersheds and bringing back brook trout. In her free time, Rachel enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her husband and two dogs.

Rebecca Dunlap, Eastern Abandoned Mine Program Manager
(570) 748-4901

Becky has been with TU since 2007 and serves as Manager for the Eastern Abandoned Mine Program. Her work has focused primarily in the West Branch Susquehanna River watershed located in central Pennsylvania where TU is leading a comprehensive and collaborative effort to restore the region's water resources impacted by abandoned mine drainage and abandoned mine lands. Becky has a B.S. in Biology from Mansfield University and a M.S. in Biology from the University of North Texas.

Sara Litzau – Eastern Conservation Assistant
(304) 614-4886

Sara joined TU in December, 2010 and is tackling the bookkeeping and logistics for the West Virginia Conservation Projects. With a high turnover rate of projects, she tracks the projects from start to finish and makes sure the processes move forward smoothly. She works closely with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife, landowners, and the USDA’s NRCS and FSA. Sara came to TU from Canaan Valley Institute, where she was a Field Research Technician, performing all aspects of stream surveys, measuring and studying CO2 respiration in a Potomac Highlands wetland, and facilitating watershed education in local schools. Sara earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Education from The Evergreen State College, and has worked with the USDA Fisheries Dept. in WA and MT. Sara enjoys mountain biking, skiing, long-distance hiking, and spending time in the orchard with her husband, Kurt.

Seth Coffman, Shenandoah Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative Coordinator
(540) 333-0689

Seth joined TU in fall 2008 as the project coordinator for the Shenandoah Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative.  He comes to TU having previously worked on conservation easements for Potomac Conservancy in Winchester, VA. Prior to that, Seth worked for the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station Center for Aquatic Technology Transfer leading fish passage assessment surveys on road stream crossings throughout the Southeast. Seth received his undergraduate degree in Fisheries Science from Virginia Tech and a Masters in Biology from James Madison University. In his spare time, Seth enjoys growing heirloom vegetables with his wife Liza, as well as chasing trout, smallmouth bass, deer, and turkeys in the Shenandoah Valley were he grew up and now lives.

Shawn Rummel, Eastern Abandoned Mine Program Field & Research Coordinator
(570) 748-4901

Shawn is the Field and Research Coordinator for the Eastern Abandoned Mine Program. He received a Ph.D. in Ecology from the Pennsylvania State University where he studied the dispersal ecology of trout. Shawn also received a M.S. in Ecology from Penn State and a B.S. in Biology from Grove City College. His research experience includes a variety of projects focused on watershed restoration. He enjoys spending his free time in the outdoors; particularly fly fishing the wild trout streams of central Pennsylvania.

Thomas Thompson, West Virginia Conservation Crew Supervisor

Thomas (Tommy) has been supervising TU's four-person crew (six in the summer months) for five years, and for the last nine years, has worked with partners and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat. Tommy's crew works in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program installing livestock exclusion fencing, eradicating invasive species, and protecting endangered ones.His work has protected stream banks, shaded streams, protected wetlands, restored riparian forests, and helped recover upland forests. The conservation crew’s professional work invokes praise and compliments from the project landowners who Tommy works with directly. Tommy lives with his wife and two lovely children near Elkins, West Virginia.